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Why do military aircraft pilots wear masks that provide oxygen when they fly at high...
- Thread starter Casey
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pilot T
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So they don't pass out. Military pilots need to be conscious to operate the aircraft.
As altitude increases, there is less air pressure so it is less dense with inadequate oxygen levels to sustain consciousness. Acute mountain sickness (AMS), altitude illness, or hypobaropathy is an effect of high altitude on people, caused by acute exposure to low partial pressure of oxygen at high altitude. This generally occurs above 8,000 feet ASL.
The available amount of oxygen to sustain mental and physical alertness decreases above 10,000 feet ASL. People may be able to survive at certain altitudes but they'll pass out first. Oxygen masks get around this little problem.
As altitude increases, there is less air pressure so it is less dense with inadequate oxygen levels to sustain consciousness. Acute mountain sickness (AMS), altitude illness, or hypobaropathy is an effect of high altitude on people, caused by acute exposure to low partial pressure of oxygen at high altitude. This generally occurs above 8,000 feet ASL.
The available amount of oxygen to sustain mental and physical alertness decreases above 10,000 feet ASL. People may be able to survive at certain altitudes but they'll pass out first. Oxygen masks get around this little problem.
Actually there is a lot more to it than, 'must breathe'.
Jet fighter cockpits are pressurized, they would have to be for temperature control if nothing else. It's also not unusual for a pilot to release his mask and hang it off to one side for comfort. Besides safety, in the event of lost pressurization, another reason to wear the mask is that's were the mike is.
Jets may have, oxygen bottles, a LOX (liquid oxygen) system, 100% pure oxygen, OBOGS (On Board Oxygen Generation System) which although not 100% O2, but its close enough or even produce oxygen from solid state like the C-5.
During most flight conditions oxygen is delivered to the mask through a regulator diluter mechanism. When cabin altitude increases, more 100 percent oxygen is added to the mixture until FL320 is reached. Then the ambient air port closes automatically and only 100 percent oxygen is delivered. If you lose pressure at high altitude it's not enough to get 100% O2, it has to be delivered under pressure. That means you relax your diaphragm to in hale and force the air out to exhale. It also means you can only talk when inhaling. That's one of the things you practice during altitude training.
Good question cuz it exposed a whole bunch of bad answers.
Jet fighter cockpits are pressurized, they would have to be for temperature control if nothing else. It's also not unusual for a pilot to release his mask and hang it off to one side for comfort. Besides safety, in the event of lost pressurization, another reason to wear the mask is that's were the mike is.
Jets may have, oxygen bottles, a LOX (liquid oxygen) system, 100% pure oxygen, OBOGS (On Board Oxygen Generation System) which although not 100% O2, but its close enough or even produce oxygen from solid state like the C-5.
During most flight conditions oxygen is delivered to the mask through a regulator diluter mechanism. When cabin altitude increases, more 100 percent oxygen is added to the mixture until FL320 is reached. Then the ambient air port closes automatically and only 100 percent oxygen is delivered. If you lose pressure at high altitude it's not enough to get 100% O2, it has to be delivered under pressure. That means you relax your diaphragm to in hale and force the air out to exhale. It also means you can only talk when inhaling. That's one of the things you practice during altitude training.
Good question cuz it exposed a whole bunch of bad answers.
A lot of your military aircraft are pressurized, just like civilian passenger planes. However, the pilot and copilot will wear their oxygen masks when in a combat situation in case the aircraft gets hit, either with a bullet or flack. The airplane could loose air without the pilot realizing before putting his mask on and passing out. So they have the masks on as a preventative measure.